Pakistani forces kill 40 militants in tribal region
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Islamabad, Dec 25, IRNA -- Pakistani security forces Saturday launched a major operation in a tribal region and killed nearly 40 militants, reports said.
The operation was launched a day after Taliban militants attacked five checkpoints in Mohmand tribal region, bordering Afghanistan.
Eleven soldiers were killed in the attacks and several were kidnapped in the Friday’s attacks, administrator in the region said.
A Taliban spokesman in the area Sajjad Mohmand had claimed responsibility for the attacks and said that the militants would carry out more attacks.
Mohmand also said that several soldiers were kidnapped and taken to unknown destination.
Taliban militants have recently stepped up attacks on security forces and pro-government tribal elders in Mohmnad tribal region bordering Afghanistan.
On December 6, two suicide bombers targeted a meeting of pro-government tribal elders in Mohmand agency and killed nearly 50 people.
Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan or TTP, had claimed the responsibility for the attacks.
Also in July, a Taliban suicide bomber killed over 100 people when he struck the office of local administrator at Ghalanai, the center of Mohmand agency.
Mohmand agency is located on the main road between Peshawar and Bajaur tribal region, once the stronghold of Taliban militants, in the restive tribal belt comprising seven tribal agencies along the border with Afghanistan.
Officials believe that Taliban militants, who fled the Bajaur region after the military operation, have taken shelter in the mountainous areas of Mohmand agency.
Reports said that the security forces shelled the positions of suspected militants in different parts of Mohmand agency and killed 40 militants.
Several hideouts of the militants were also destroyed during the operation. The forces used military helicopters and heavy artillery to hit positions of the militants.
Reports said that the security forces also planned a major operation against the militants in Khyber tribal region, also bordering Afghanistan.
Fresh contingent of army had been sent to Khyber agency, where Taliban militants and another militant group ‘Lashkar-e-Islam’ regularly attacks the security forces and NATO supplies vehicles.
US drone aircraft also expanded its strikes to Khyber Agency and killed around 50 militants in four attacks few days ago. A known and wanted Taliban commander Bin Yameen was among the militants killed in the drone strikes in Tirah Valley of Khyber agency.
**1422
Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30141807
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